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Campaigners fear loss of 'public' playing fields

Jonathan MorrisSouth West
News imageSienna Somers The image shows a large grassy sports field with a prominent white sign in the foreground reading: “Access Prohibited - No public access or right of way is permitted. This is private land and only authorised users are permitted access.” A paved path runs alongside the field, where a group of people has gathered in the middle distance, with football goals, trees and rolling countryside visible beyond.Sienna Somers
Campaigners said the signs that have been put up show restrictions on casual use of the field have been brought in

Campaigners say a school's playing field has been lost as a public space after a new booking system introduced by its owners.

Lower Field, also known as Elmhirst Field, near King Edward VI Community College in Totnes, Devon, is owned by the schools' trust Education South West, which has earmarked it for sale.

Campaigners said the field was widely used for everything, from casual football matches and picnics to organised sports and community events and they said the booking system was "a modern enclosure of public space and leisure time".

The trust said it was "important that we know who is using the site and when, both so that we can manage access effectively and keep the site safe and secure".

News imageSienna Somers The photo shows a large grassy playing field with a small group of people. Behind the field is a line of trees and buildings, dominated by a tall red-brick industrial chimney, all set beneath a clear blue sky in low evening sunlight.Sienna Somers
The field is earmarked for sale by Education South West

Friends of Lower Field was formed after signs and barriers appeared at entrances to the site, thought to be about 6 acres (2.5 hectares), in July.

Lewis Winks, from the group, said: "No-one wants to book a slot on a calendar to go and sit in the sun and eat their lunch, fly a kite with their child or go for a kickabout after school or work."

He added: "The new calendar booking system is a visual reminder of what is really happening here: a modern enclosure of public space and leisure time."

Campaigner Sienna Somers said: "We've had some good dialogue with Education South West and, to be fair to them, I think they're trying to make sure that we can still use the site and that's why they put this booking system in place.

"But really what they're doing is just restricting access."

A spokesperson for Education South West said the signs at the site did not represent new restrictions and had been renewed as part of ongoing management of the land.

They added members of the public could still get access to the river at one end of the playing fields via public rights of way.

"The signs reflect the fact that the site is private land and that access has to be managed primarily around the needs and safeguarding of KEVICC students and the operation of the school," the spokesperson said.

"It is important that we know who is using the site and when, both so that we can manage access effectively and keep the site safe and secure."

Education South West said it had received Department for Education approval to dispose of the land for housing.

The spokesperson said the sale would help ensure the college remained "sustainable and fit for the future" while allowing investment in school buildings and facilities used by students.

"We recognise that the site is valued by the local community and are committed to being open and transparent as the formal process progresses, no purchaser has yet been identified."

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